#Josh Groban you are always in my heart

[demonbarberofbeepbeep]

I’m seeing them in one week mind you. In case anyone forgot

[madhatterbri]

Beauty and the Demon | F.B. (Demon King)

Summary: The Demon King is left alone with his thoughts.

Author's Note: I am mixing my two favorite things: Disney and wrestling. Let's see how it goes.

@theworldofotps @plentyoffandoms

The Demon King solemnly walked to the table that held the black rose in the glass dome. His hand placed gingerly as if the table would break with his touch. Memories of his lonely life before you trickled into his mind as he stared at the fallen dark petals. Now he knew he needed someone, you, more than ever.

He closed his eyes and walked away from the table. He opened his blue eyes to a portrait of his former self. The way he looked before the sorceress cursed him and his kingdom to their current demon forms. Slashes caused by his claws marked up the painting and the wooden board that held it.

No longer afraid to hide himself, he looked in the mirror. His demon appearance reflected back to him. His skin is black and red with white to resemble big, sharp, pointy teeth. He looked down and ran his fingers through his hair. A feeling of someone pushing his chin up caused him to do so. He could have swore he saw you standing next to him, but when he looked towards you, you were gone.

He knew the exact moments when you stole his heart. The way you had a caring and kindness to you even when you were a prisoner in his own home. When he was really hurt, you nurtured him back to health. Besides being beautiful, you had a love for books and knowledge. You were the light in his dark world.

Finn stammered over to the window and saw as you rode on horse to help your father. Your hair swayed in the wind as the horse galloped you further away from his broken heart. His heart ached and pained him like an open wound that would never heal. He knew as his inner demon claimed more of him that he would never forget you. You would always be a peace of this castle with him.

Broken-hearted, the king walked up the cobblestone stairs to your room. He continued to watch you leave. Each stomp of the horse's hoof felt like it stomped his heart. The foolish thought of leaving his castle doors open for you crossed his mind. As if you would want to live with him for evermore.

Despite the fact that he could no longer see you, your presence lingered. As he looked around the room, he saw the ghost of you. One moment, you were sitting in front of the mirror laughing at his jokes and brushing your hair. The next, you were sitting at the desk. He sat across from you and never took his eyes off of you. Lastly, the two of you were lying in your bed. Fingers barely touched as dreams were spilled for the other to enjoy. Oh, how he missed you.

Now you would be with him in everything he did. Whether it would be walking down the hallways, reading in the library, or any of the other mundane things that he would do to occupy his time.

He knew his nights would be spent alone in his tower. His bedroom door left open so he could fool himself that you would walk right in. His dreams of the future now consist of what might have been.

"Sir," one of the lesser demons asked. Finn stopped staring out the window long enough to acknowledge the other's presence. "Why did you let her go?"

"I had to let her go," Finn paused and looked out the floor. He shuddered at his last words. "Because I love her,"

[numberonenat]

i asked chat gpt to make a playlist based on each one of the obey me characters…

>> PART 2!!! <<

here's part 1 and 3: the brothers / the side characters

diavolo:

"kings and queens" by 30 seconds to mars

"hail to the king" by avenged sevenfold

"demons" by imagine dragons

"hall of fame" by the script ft. will.i.am

"power" by kanye west

"emperor's new clothes" by panic! at the disco

"my songs know what you did in the dark (light em up)" by fall out boy

"radioactive" by imagine dragons

"glory and gore" by lorde

"god's gonna cut you down" by johnny cash

"believer" by imagine dragons

"throne" by bring me the horizon

"can't hold us" by macklemore & ryan lewis ft. ray dalton

"sail" by AWOLNATION

"the man" by taylor swift

barbatos:

"smooth operator" by sade

"uptown funk" by mark ronson ft. bruno mars

"one more time" by daft punk

"careless whisper" by george michael

"every breath you take" by the police

"superstition" by stevie wonder

"fly me to the moon" by frank sinatra

"feeling good" by michael bublé

"just the two of us" by bill withers ft. grover washington jr.

"easy" by lionel richie

"can't stop the feeling!" by justin timberlake

"i want to hold your hand" by the beatles

"smooth" by santana ft. rob thomas

"i will always love you" by whitney houston

"at last" by etta james

solomon:

"imagine" by john lennon

"bohemian rhapsody" by queen

"wish you were here" by pink floyd

"stairway to heaven" by led zeppelin

"magic" by coldplay

"karma police" by radiohead

"black magic woman" by santana

"time" by pink floyd

"riders on the storm" by the doors

"lucy in the sky with diamonds" by the beatles

"i put a spell on you" by nina simone

"paint it black" by the rolling stones

"losing my religion" by R.E.M.

"sultans of swing" by dire straits

"sympathy for the devil" by the rolling stones

simeon:

"angels" by robbie williams

"halo" by beyoncé

"you raise me up" by josh groban

"i will always love you" by whitney houston

"lean on me" by bill Withers

"un-break my heart" by toni braxton

"wind beneath my wings" by bette midler

"in the arms of an angel" by sarah mclachlan

"true colors" by cyndi lauper

"hero" by mariah carey

"i believe i can fly" by r. kelly

"heaven" by bryan adams

"a thousand years" by christina perri

"you're beautiful" by james blunt

"i can see clearly now" by johnny nash

luke:

"pocketful of sunshine" by natasha bedingfield

"here comes the sun" by the beatles

"walking on sunshine" by katrina and the waves

"happy" by pharrell williams

"rainbow connection" by kermit the frog

"ain't no mountain high enough" by marvin gaye & tammi terrell

"all star" by smash mouth

"don't worry, be happy" by bobby mcferrin

"three little birds" by bob marley & the wailers

"i just can't wait to be king" from the lion king

"best day of my life" by american authors

"count on me" by bruno mars

"i'm yours" by jason mraz

"walking on air" by katy perry

"sing" by pentatonix

barbatos with michael bublé, frank sinatra and george michael is a vibe honestly lol BUT THEN THERES THE JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE TROLLS SONG WTF LMAO

i love doing this is so funny

i'm probably doing a part 3 !!!

[sailoreuterpe]

Non-Romantic Song Recommendations

familial/platonic- the lyrics are relatively generic; family or friends

child love- perspective of a child to a guardian

grandchild love- perspective of a grandchild to a grandparent

parental love- perspective of a guardian to a child

sibling love- perspective of a sibling to a sibling

lyrics can tweak platonic- the lyrics are explicitly romantic in nature but can become generic with tweaking

romantic video- the official music video is explicitly romantic in nature; lyric music videos are usually less romantic

(This is my favorite familial/platonic song) Tracy Chapman (familial/platonic): The Promise - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-nqzwIvnZ0

Andrew Gold: Thank You for Being a Friend (familial/platonic)

Andy Grammer: Don't Give Up on Me (lyrics can tweak platonic)

A Great Big World: I Will Always Be There (familial/platonic)

Al Kasha, Joel Hirschhorn, Michael Lloyd: Love Survives (familial/platonic)

Alison Krauss: Baby Mine (parental love)

Alison Krauss: When You Say Nothing at All (familial/platonic)

Anthony Gonzalez: Proud Corazon (child love)

Avicii: Hey Brother (sibling love)

Ben E. King: Stand By Me (familial/platonic)

Bette Midler: Wind Beneath my Wings (child love, familial/platonic)

Bill Withers: Lean on Me (familial/platonic)

Billy Joel: Just the Way You Are (lyrics can tweak platonic)

Billy Joel: Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) (parental love)

Boyz 2 Men: Mama (child love)

Brendan Shine: A Mother's Love's a Blessing (child love)

Celtic Woman: Danny Boy (sibling love)

Christina Perri: A Thousand Years (romantic video, lyrics can tweak platonic)

Crosby, Stills, and Nash: Teach Your Children (child love, parental love)

Cyndi Lauper: True Colors (familial/platonic)

Dan Fogelberg: Leader of the Band (child love)

Diamond Rio: One More Day (familial/platonic)

Diana Ross: If We Hold On Together (familial/platonic)

Dionne Warwick: That's What Friends are For (familial/platonic)

Donna Lewis: At the Beginning (romantic video, lyrics can tweak platonic)

Gabriella Flores, Gael Garcia Bernal: Remember Me (child love, parental love)

Imagine Dragons: I Bet My Life (child love)

Jim Croce: I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song (lyrics can tweak platonic)

Jim Croce: Time in a Bottle (parental love)

Josh Groban: You Raise Me Up (familial/platonic)

Katy Perry: Unconditionally (romantic video, familial/platonic)

Kenny Loggins: Return to Pooh Corner (parental love)

Lionel Richie: Angel (familial/platonic)

Luther Vandross: Dance with My Father (child love)

Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell: Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (lyrics can tweak platonic)

Mary Chapin Carpenter: Grow Old Along with Me (lyrics can tweak platonic)

Melissa Wasserman: Twenty Two (sibling love)

Miranda Lambert: Over You (familial/platonic)

Miranda Lambert: The House That Built Me (child love)

OK Go: I Won't Let You Down (familial/platonic)

Phil Collins: You'll Be in My Heart (parental love)

Phillip Phillips: Gone Gone Gone (familial/platonic)

Phillip Phillips: Home (familial/platonic)

Porter Robinson: Shelter (child love)

Queen: You’re My Best Friend (familial/platonic)

Rachel Platten: Better Place (familial/platonic)

Rachel Platten: Stand by You (familial/platonic)

Randy Newman: You've Got a Friend in Me (familial/platonic)

Regina Spektor: The Call (familial/platonic)

Rod Stewart: Forever Young (parental love)

Sarah Mclachlan: I Will Remember You (romantic video, lyrics can tweak platonic)

Savage Garden: I Knew I Loved You (romantic video, lyrics can tweak platonic)

Shania Twain: Forever and Always (romantic video, lyrics can tweak platonic)

Sick Puppies: All the Same (romantic video, lyrics can tweak platonic)

Sting: Fields of Gold (lyrics can tweak platonic)

Swedish House Mafia: Don't You Worry Child (child love, parental love)

Taylor Swift: marjorie (grandchild love)

Taylor Swift: Safe and Sound (familial/platonic)

Vienna Teng: Lullaby for a Stormy Night (parental love)

Will Smith: Just the Two of Us (parental love)

[cariantha]

Ethan and Sawyer answer questions about themselves from this list: Make Me Admit Stuff.

Timeline: Second Year, Post-Attack

For context, Sawyer ran away to San Diego a few days after the funeral. Ethan flew out to CA to be with her.

(Both Ethan and Sawyer)

#3: Have you taken someone’s virginity?

Sawyer: “No.”

Ethan: “Yes.” 

#6: What are you excited for?

Ethan: “For us to finally be together. No more pretending or denying how we feel.”

Sawyer: “Same. Though I wasn’t pretending or denying anything. My feelings for you were pretty obvious.”

Ethan: “You’re right. And I’m so grateful that you never gave up on this. On us.”

#10: What is the last beverage you had?

Ethan: “We went out for Italian tonight. I ordered a glass of red wine.”

Sawyer: “I had a mocktail. Something with lemon and raspberry, if I remember. I’m trying to avoid alcohol while I’m on certain meds…”

#12: Do you own a pair of skinny jeans?

Sawyer: “Yes. Several.”

Ethan: “What the hell are 'skinny' jeans?”

Sawyer: “Ethan, they're the kind that I wear. You know, the style that made you curse in frustration the other night as you tried to remove them.”

Ethan: “Ah, yes, I have a love/hate relationship with those jeans. But I think I have the technique down now. Unzip, fold down, and peel away.”

#13: What are you gonna do Saturday night?

Sawyer: “I was promised that if I changed out of my sweatpants and went to dinner with you, that I could pick the rest of the activities for the night.”

Ethan: “And I plan to keep my promise, Rookie. So? What will it be? Another rom-com, cuddling by the firepit, a walk on the beach? What do you want to do?”

Sawyer: “You. I want to do you.”

Ethan: “Well then, let me prove that I can be a man of my word.”

Ethan throws her over his shoulder and carries her upstairs.

#14: What are you going to spend money on next?

Sawyer: “A plane ticket back to Boston?”

She looks at Ethan.

Sawyer: “I think I’m ready to go home.”

Ethan leans forward and kisses her forehead.

Ethan: “Then I’ll be buying those plane tickets. We’re going home in first-class, baby.”

#17: Who do you feel most comfortable talking to about anything?

Sawyer: “More and more, I’m realizing it’s Ethan. He knows what I’ve been through. He’s was there. Romantic complications aside, he’s always been there. He listens and doesn’t try to tell me how to feel. That’s what I need most right now. And even before the incident, he was always the first person I sought advice from. He just understands the current version of me better than anyone else.”

Ethan: “It’s been Sawyer for while now. Before her, I would say it was Naveen.”

#21: Are you in a good mood?

Sawyer: “Today … today has been one of the better days.”

She glances at Ethan for reassurance.

Ethan: “Yes…”

He looks lovingly at Sawyer and squeezes her hand.

Ethan: “It’s been a good day.”

#34: Listening to?

Ethan: “Josh Groban.”

Sawyer: “To be honest, I had Gone by Charli XCX and Christine and the Queens on replay for the past couple weeks. I was in a bad place. But now that Ethan’s here, I’ve gotten on the Josh Groban bandwagon. There’s something so soothing about his voice. On the good days, I’ve been listening to new stuff from LANY and Lauv. I have a few favorites from Jane and the Boy too.”

#36: Do you know where the last person you kissed is?

Ethan: “Yes.”

Sawyer: (points to Ethan)

#37: Do you believe in love at first sight?

Sawyer: “Lust at first sight, yes. But love at first sight? No. I think you have to get to know a person’s heart before you can say that you truly love them. I do believe falling in love can happen quickly though.”

Ethan: “Same.”

#47: Who was the last person to call you?

Sawyer: “My mom. She’s been checking in everyday since…it happened.”

Ethan: “Naveen. To also check on how Sawyer is doing–”

Sawyer: (covering his hand with hers) “And you…”

#55: Favorite type of fruit pie?

Sawyer: “That’s a tough one. I love cherry and apple. Not a big fan of peach. Hmm, if I had to pick just one, I’d go with Razzleberry. It’s a mix of raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. Though I do love lemon and key lime too. Really anything tart.”

Ethan: (distracted)

Sawyer: “Ethan? What about you?”

Ethan: (looks up from his phone where he was Googling Razzleberry pie recipes) “Oh, uh, Dutch apple.”

#61: Wear a bath robe?

Ethan: “No.”

Sawyer: “Only because I live with roommates. If I lived on my own, then no.”

#72: Ever win a spelling bee?

Sawyer: “No. It’s not that I’m a bad speller, but I’m more of a visual person. I have to be able to write it out and see that it’s correct.”

Ethan: “Yes, I won the spelling bee at my elementary school and then at the district level. I took second place in the regional competition.”

Sawyer: “Oh, so close…”

Ethan: “I would have gone on to state, but I threw the regional competition. My dad insisted on taking time off work to come and watch me compete. He had to work overtime to compensate. It was the same year my mom left. I hated when he worked late. I cared more about having him home in the evenings and on the weekends than I did about winning.”

Sawyer: “Aw, babe. You’re making me cry…”

#74: What is your favorite book?

Ethan: “Mine.”

Sawyer: “I can’t tell if you’re joking or not.”

Ethan: “I’m not. But I do also enjoy the author, Dr. Robin Cook. He writes medical thrillers. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be Chromosome 6.”

Ethan: “And you, Rookie?”

Sawyer: “Yours.”

Ethan rolls his eyes.

Sawyer: “I’m serious! I wasn’t lying when I said that I’m your biggest fan.”

#78: Who would you like to see in concert?

Ethan: “Believe it or not, I’ve never seen Placido Domingo perform live.”

Sawyer: “You need to cross that off your bucket list soon. He’s getting up there.”

Ethan: “So are the Back Sync Kids.”

Sawyer: “Ha. Ha. I’ve already crossed those ones off my list. Hmm… Oh, I know! Conor Maynard. His voice is incredible. I’d love to hear him live in concert someday.”

#79: What was the last concert you saw?

Ethan: “Garth Brooks.”

Sawyer: (snaps her head to Ethan in surprise and laughs) “That is not what I was expecting you to say.”

Ethan: “Naveen is a huge fan. When I heard that Garth’s tour was coming to town last year, I gifted him a pair of tickets for his birthday. He insisted that I go with him.”

Sawyer: “Did you wear a cowboy hat and boots?”

Ethan: “No.” (starts scrolling through this phone) “But Naveen did. He had the big belt buckle too. I have a picture here somewhere. What about you?”

Sawyer: “Justin Bieber.”

Ethan: (rolls his eyes)

Sawyer: “Hey! Don’t judge me. I went with my baby sister.”

Ethan: “Oh, I’m so judging you right now.”

Sawyer: (murmurs under her breath) “My mama don’t like you and she likes everyone.”

Ethan: “What?”

Sawyer: “Nothing. Next question.”

#80: Hot tea or cold tea?

Ethan: “Cold.”

Sawyer: “I’m not a fan of either. But if I’m sick and desperate for some relief, I’ll sip on some hot tea.”

#87: Ever won a contest?

Ethan: “Yes. Many.”

Sawyer: “Which one were you most proud of?”

Ethan: “All of the ones where I kicked Tobias’ ass.”

Sawyer: “Ethan.”

Ethan: “I’m kidding.”

Sawyer: (glares at him)

Ethan: “I’m mostly kidding.”

Sawyer: “For me, I won some science fairs when I was a kid. And I almost won the intern competition for the junior fellowship on the DT. I mean, I got the spot anyway, but I like to think that I would have won fair and square had the competition continued.”

Ethan: “You would have.”

Sawyer: “I think you were a little biased though.”

Ethan: “Goddamn right. But that doesn’t change the fact that you were still the best for the job.”

#92: Do you want to get married?

Sawyer: “Yes? I’ve always pictured myself married one day. But is it a deal breaker if I meet the ‘one?’ Not necessarily. For me, it’s not about the certificate or the title and name change. I just want the promise of commitment. And to be honest, most of my hesitation about getting married has more to with the actual wedding. My mother is a wedding planner, and the thought of her insisting on a huge, over the top wedding makes me break out in hives. If I get married, I want my wedding to be intimate and romantic. I want to be present and savor every moment with my partner. I don’t want to be the main attraction at a circus, dancing and performing for everyone else just because it’s 'tradition.’ Does that makes any sense?”

Ethan: (looks to Sawyer) “I didn’t used to think so. But one thing I’ve learned recently is…it’s impossible to know what the future will bring.”

(Sawyer only)

#7: What happened tonight?

Sawyer: "I decided earlier in the week that I was ready to go home. To Boston. Ethan and I are flying back tonight."

#13: What are you gonna do Saturday night?

Sawyer: "When we land in Boston, we're going back to Ethan's place. He's going to make us dinner later and we're just going to have a quiet night in. Tomorrow, I'll head back to my apartment and try to settle into some normal routine."

#18: The last time you felt broken?

Sawyer: "Now. I feel broken now. But I'm working through it. I feel like I'm being held together by duct tape at the moment, but at least I can function. That's an improvement over a couple weeks ago."

#19: Have you had sex today?

Sawyer: "No. Maybe later? I'm going back to my apartment tomorrow and Ethan goes back to work on Monday. I'm sure he'll be swamped for a while. Since I'm not sure when we'll be together again, I wouldn't mind making tonight count. If Ethan's in the mood, that is."

She shakes her head and chuckles.

Sawyer: "Who am I kidding? Now that he's not holding back, he's always in the mood."

#26: Is your current hair color your natural hair color?

Sawyer: “Right now, it is. I’m naturally a light brown with some reddish undertones. When I spend a lot of time in the sun, it lightens up a lot. But I usually help it along with blonde highlights. When I started at Edenbrook, I was much more blonde. Every once in a while I’ll change things up and go darker brown or slightly more red.”

#37: Do you believe in love at first sight?

Sawyer: “With people? No. With donuts, everything bagels, and pepperoni pizza? Absolutely.

#45: If you could, would you take back your last kiss?

Sawyer: "Not a chance.”

#68: Favorite Taylor Swift song?

Sawyer: "I'll admit I like Taylor, but I'm not really a Swiftie. I have 'The Archer' and 'Gorgeous' on my current faves playlist. 'Archer' has a cool vibe. And 'Gorgeous' makes me think of when I first met Ethan."

#81: Tea or coffee?

Sawyer: "Not really a big fan of either one, but if I had to choose? Coffee. Usually a mocha Frappuccino with either raspberry or peppermint and lots of whipped cream."

#88: Ever have plastic surgery?

Sawyer: "Yes."🍒

Timeline: Post-Series

(Both Ethan and Sawyer)

#4: Is trust a big issue for you?

Sawyer: “Do you mind if I answer for both of us?”

Ethan gestures for her to go ahead.

Sawyer: “Trust is a big issue for Ethan. He eventually trusted me enough to share why, and I totally get it. Trust is super important to me too, but I wouldn’t say it’s a big issue. I’m generally a pretty trusting person unless you give me a reason not to be. Ethan on the other hand? You have to earn his trust.”

Ethan: “Well said.”

#5: Did you hang out with the person you like recently?

Sawyer: “No-”

Ethan: “You wound me, Rookie.”

Sawyer: “You didn’t let me finish. I was going to say, no, I hung out with the person I love.”

Ethan: “My apologies. According to your reasoning, my answer would also be no.”

#17: Who do you feel most comfortable talking to about anything?

Sawyer: “Ethan.”

Ethan: “Sawyer.”

Sawyer: “Really? I would have guessed yourself. You talk to yourself a lot.”

#23: Are your eyes the same color as your dad’s?

Ethan: “Yes.”

Sawyer: “No. My dad has brown eyes.”

#33: Are you one of those people who never drinks soda?

Ethan: “I’ll drink a Coke once in a blue moon, but I’m not much of a soda drinker. Sawyer on the other hand…”

Sawyer: “I do love my Dr. Pepper. It’s like a comfort food for me. And for the record, I don’t drink nearly as much soda as he drinks coffee.”

#41: When was the last time you ate a cupcake?

Ethan: “It’s been a few months. I think it was at Hud’s birthday party in Minneapolis?”

Sawyer: “Today. Sarah brought them in for Marlene’s birthday.”

#48: Do you sing in the shower?

Sawyer: “Only if I’m home alone. I love to sing, but I know I’m tone deaf.”

Ethan: “I don’t sing in the shower.”

Sawyer: “But he hums.”

#56: Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid?

Ethan: “I wanted to be a detective.”

Sawyer: “I’ve shared before that I wanted to be lots of things. I went through so many phases including teacher, doctor, scientist, astronaut, surfer, rock star, and FBI agent. But I remember another one… when I was pre-teen I wanted to work at Disneyland. I thought it would be so cool to work at ’the happiest place on earth’ and meet people from all over.”

Ethan: “You would have made a beautiful princess.”

Sawyer: “Bold of you to assume I wanted to be a princess. But I know you’re just trying to be sweet, so I’ll forgive you.”

Ethan: “You’re right though. My apologies. So what did you want to be?”

Sawyer: “A princess.”

Ethan rolls his eyes.

Ethan: “Instead you became a very successful pain in the ass.”

#61: Wear a bath robe?

Ethan: “No.”

Sawyer: “When it’s just the two of us? No.”

Ethan: “What do you call the puffy robe you wear in the winter?”

Sawyer: “My David Gandy Wellwear duvet coat? That’s not a robe. It’s more like a snuggie. And I only wear it when you’re not around to cuddle with.”

#73: Have you ever cried because you were so happy?

Ethan: (locks eyes with Sawyer) “Yes.”

Sawyer: “Stop looking at me like that. You’re going to make me cry right now.”

(Sawyer only)

#16: Do you think you’ll change in the next 3 months?

Sawyer: (rubs her swollen belly) “Yep, I think a lot will be changing for me in the near future.”

#42: Did you hug/kiss one of your parents today?

Sawyer: “Unfortunately, no. They are both on the other side of the country. But now that you have me thinking about it, I’ll definitely be giving them a call later to check in.”

#56: Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid?

Sawyer: “Everything! I went through so many phases. I wanted to be a teacher, a doctor, a scientist, an astronaut, a professional surfer, a rock star, an FBI agent…”

#91: Best room for a fireplace?

Sawyer: I think the aesthetic is cheesy, but I do love having a fireplace in the bathroom. I once stayed in a hotel suite with one of those two-sided fireplaces in the master bedroom and bathroom. It was so relaxing to soak in that tub and zone out as I watched the flames flicker.

Tag List: @potionsprefect @jamespotterthefirst @annfg8 @peonierose @socalwriterbee @tessa-liam @jerzwriter @quixoticdreamer16 @mysticalgalaxysstuff @inlocusmads @txemrn @trappedinfanfiction @mvalentine @takemyopenheart @openheartforeverinmyheart @coffeeheartaddict2 @genevievemd @starrystarrytrouble @hopelessromantic1352 @kyra75 @lsvdw-blog @rookiemartin @headoverheelsforramsey @zealouscanonindeer

[velvet4510]

Frodo/Sam (romantic) playlist, in no particular order: [and yes I’m clearly old-school…still, check these songs out, they’re too good to be forgotten!]

“I Will Follow Him” (Little Peggy March; Sam’s POV)

“Bridge Over Troubled Water” (Simon & Garfunkel; Sam’s POV)

“May I” (Trading Yesterday; Sam’s POV)

“Hold On” (Michael Bublé)

“The Story” (Brandi Carlile)

“Younger Than Springtime” (South Pacific; Frodo’s POV)

“All I Ask of You” (Josh Groban as Sam; Kelly Clarkson as Frodo)

“Because You Loved Me” (Celine Dion; Frodo’s POV)

“So Close” (Jon McLaughlin)

“I Will Always Love You” (Whitney Houston; Frodo’s POV)

“If I Never Knew You” (Jon Secada & Shanice)

“A Time for Us” (Andy Williams)

“Forever” (Mariah Carey; Frodo’s POV)

“My Heart Will Go On” (Celine Dion; Sam’s POV)

“Somewhere” (Barbra Streisand)

“A Thousand Years” (Christina Perri)

“Somewhere in Time” (Tracy Huang & Kevin Ong)

“Where Do I Begin” (Andy Williams; Frodo’s POV)

“I Was Born In Love With You” (The Mike Curb Congregation)

“Up Where We Belong” (Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes; the reference to the eagles is just perfect for these two hobbits)

“Rewrite the Stars” (Zac Efron as Sam & Zendaya as Frodo)

“Somewhere My Love” (Andy Williams; Frodo’s POV, substituting ‘Samwise’ for ‘Lara’)

“There You’ll Be” (Faith Hill; Sam’s POV)

“You Needed Me” (Anne Murray; Frodo’s POV)

“You Raise Me Up” (Josh Groban)

“We Have All the Time in the World” (Louis Armstrong; theme for Valinor reunion)

Frodo/Sam + Rosie:

“Take Her to the Moon” (Moira Dela Torre; Frodo’s POV)

[onthesandsofdreams]

She Stares Through My Shadow (She Sees Something More)

Fandom: The Sandman (TV) Pairing: Morpheus x F!Reader Rating: T Summary: A friendship that turned into love. A love that you two had been hesitant to pursue, but in the end, you decided that it was better to love and loose than simply let this opportunity pass you by and you pursued Morpheus. Words: 1199 Notes: For @mousedetective / Title from “In Her Eyes” by Josh Groban Prompt(s): 31. "I'm not alone and neither are you." From @fictober-event

Read @ AO3

You knew that something was eating at Morpheus.

What exactly, you were unsure, he already had regain what he had lost and dealt with his captors, but he was still... gloomy. Well, truth be told he was always so gloomy and sad, it broke your heart. You two had been friends for a long time now - oh blessed be the advantages of being a long-lived witch, was that you two had a long standing friendship.

A friendship that changed after his release.

A friendship that turned into love. A love that you two had been hesitant to pursue, but in the end, you decided that it was better to love and loose than simply let this opportunity pass you by and you pursued Morpheus.

And he had surprised you by welcoming your romantic overtures. Both in the waking world and in the Dreaming. It had made your heart soar with happiness when you had told him that you loved him and he, in that very tender way of his, had said that he loved you too. It was bliss.

But.

Of course there was a but. And said but was Morpheus gloom.

Right now, the gloom was making itself present as you two were having a nice picnic on the Dreaming. You would think that he would let his worries go for a moment, but no. No such luck.

"What has you in such a mood, Morpheus?" You finally asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, that we are having a lovely picnic and I can feel the sense of gloom radiating from you. You know that everything is alright, yes?"

"I am aware."

Mentally you sighed, you closed your eyes for a moment and then spoke. "Morpheus, I know that you think you're alone and you probably feel so. I can't exactly blame you for that. You were held captive for over a century and lost Jessamy, that must have hurt. I have called myself your friend and I feel like I failed you."  You opened your eyes and stared at Morpheus and then sighed, drew even closer to him and took his hand. "I could not free you, nor find you. I spent many years wondering if you were okay. Wondering where you were. But you know what kept me going? The hope that I would see you again. And the knowledge I'm not alone, and neither are you, my love." You took a deep breath. "I know you have a complicated relationship with your family, but you have Death. And she loves and cares for you. You have Hob, who has been your friend for centuries - even when you did not called him so. And you have me." You sighed. "Who loves you, and if I could, I would move heaven and hell for you."

"That is not necessary..."

"It's a manner of speech, Morpheus darling." You said with a laugh, giving his hand a squeeze. "What I mean to say is this, I am on your corner and I am always here to listen should you ever want to talk, about whatever. Even when you are just ranting about whatever Desire came up with to annoy you. Because I love you, and I know you love me. This is what a relationship should be, two people who love and support each other.

"People who listen, who communicate and don't bottle things up until they explode. That is not healthy. That is why I talk to you, because I trust you. Because before you were my love, you were my friend and I would still say you are. And friends and lovers talk."

Morpheus stared at you in silence, those star-like eyes bore into you, almost making you feel naked before him, but you did not flinch. "I am not used to do it. Talking, I mean."

"Oh, I can tell." You smiled at him. "But do not worry, we'll start slow. How about this, tell me of your favorite parts of the Dreaming."

"You want to know more about the Dreaming?"

"Of course. It's part of you, and I would love to know it all. Even the parts with the nightmares. I am not afraid of your darkness Morpheus, for if anything, it makes the stars in your sky shine all the brighter."

Morpheus gives you a tiny smile and you feel your heart thunder in your chest and your blood rush in your ears. He has such a lovely smile, it makes him all the more handsome. To your surprise, he lifts your hand and places the softest of kisses on the back of it. "I already feel much better. I would have thought my darkness could scare you away."

You shake your head, "We all have monsters and darkness inside, love. The thing is, accepting that we're not perfect all the time and when necessary, embrace that ugly part of us and then, rise above it. We do what we must to survive. I know I have, and I would rather face the darkness at your side than not."

Morpheus raised a hand to softly caress your cheek and, with a quick movement that you were not expecting, he brought you close enough so he could kiss you. It was a kiss full of passion, of love and desire and you welcomed it eagerly, responding to his attentions and tangling your fingers into his hair. It was Morpheus who pulled back first, "I love you," he whispered against your lips. "Thank you, for trying to find me. For helping me. For being my friend, but above it all, for loving me as I am."

Closing your eyes, you touched your forehead against his, "There is no need to thank me," you told him just as softly. "Please know that you will always have a place in my heart, no matter what Morpheus. And I am lucky that you have given us this chance."

"I feel rather fortunate that you did not abandoned me or our friendship. That you did not loose your faith in me. Or that you did not think I had left you behind, and for that alone, I would think I am the lucky one."

You smiled, opened your eyes and, feeling playful, kissed the top of his nose. "We both are, I think. But you know what? I think we deserve this softness, this love. Let us try for happily ever after."

Morpheus smiled. He could use the softness, the tenderness that you offered so freely and so happily. He brought you close for another deep kiss. "I think," he said after you both parted. "Happily ever after sounds lovely, so long as it is with you."

You cuddled into his arms, placing your head beneath his chin. "Yeah, as long as it is with you it would be... a dream."

"Very funny."

"Aren't I always, love?"

Morpheus did not answer, but he held you closer and you let the peacefulness of the moment wash over you and give you a sense of peace unlike any other you had felt. You were home, because home was Morpheus.  And you hoped that Morpheus would find a home in your heart.

[nomi--sunrider]

Then, Now, and Always

Chapter 46: Then, Now, and Always

Summary: The end of the war and everything that comes after.

Image Credit: Screencapping-BadWolfKaily, Editing-Sel Queen's Courtesan

Author's Note below the cut. Contains spoilers for the chapter so read the chapter first.

Thanks everyone for reading Then, Now, and Always. My biggest creative project of the past year and as of now, my best work. This fandom has given me so much, from badly needed dopamine during my first year of grad school to a lovely excuse to go to London for my first ever con! I've discovered so much new music and so many new artists, developed crushes on a ton of great actors, and expanded my creative world so much. I can't believe the fic is finished. I'll sure miss it, but I'm excited to do other awesome things.

If anyone is interested, here is a link to an app/website called Lingvano. It comes highly recommended by deaf folks as a way for (hearing) people to learn ASL from deaf people. If I could write this fic again, I'd put actual deaf characters in it and maybe give Tally a deaf teacher. From research, I've learned it's better to study ASL from deaf folks, as they speak it as it's meant to be spoken and it's also their language in general. Unfortunately, Lingvano costs $9.99 per month after the free trial. Worth it in my opinion, as it's a very well-done site.

At the end of this post, there's a link to a playlist of music I listened to while writing the fic. I put liner notes of sorts below because I always get excited when other authors do that. However, you're welcome to listen however you like.

The Playlist

Chasing Twisters - Delta Rae : If Then, Now, and Always had a theme song, it would be this.

Salvation - LP : Honorable Mention

The Night We Met - Lord Huron : A guest commenter called Song Fairy recced this song to me in the Chapter 28 comments. You could listen to it anywhere in the fic, but Chapter 2 is reasonable enough to get a taste of what's coming.

X-Training - Henry Jackman : To be listened to during Chapter 11 during Tally's retraining montage.

Come to Your Senses - Alexandra Shipp, Vanessa Hudgens : It amuses me that this song is two women singing to Andrew Garfield because in my opinion, it's the best lesbian love ballad ever written for musical theater. Accompanies Chapter 12: The Twilight of Witchkind.

Say Something - A Great Big World, Christina Aguilera : I'm guessing it's obvious, but if it's not, this goes with Chapter 13: Say Something.

This is Me - Keala Settle, The Greatest Showman Ensemble : To be listened to with Chapter 15: Silent Witch, when Tally grabs the world by the nostrils and forces it to acknowledge her.

Ugly Heart - G.R.L : Could be listened to anywhere in the Chapter 16-19 realm where Sarah and Tally are both raging, both mad, sort of at each other, but mostly in general.

Evermore - Josh Groban : SpookyWitchling mentioned this song in the comments of Chapter 16: By Hand, specifically. I like it more as an Alder song, maybe at the end of Chapter 17: The Downside of Miracles, but you may do as you wish.

Laid Low - The Naked and Famous : This song has made Top 5 in my Spotify end of year playlist since 2016. It's a banger, it has anime AMV energy, I love it, and I think it's goes well with the Arc II finale, Chapter 25: Battle of the Goddesses.

If I'd Known I Loved Her - Delta Rae : I love this song so much. I first heard it in September 2022, back when TNAA was a mere twinkle in my eye, and I was like "Holy shit, this is Alder's half of the love story." Goes with Chapter 26: If I'd Known.

History Has Its Eyes on You: Christopher Jackson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton : The main difficulty of writing the third act was Tally's character arc. At first, it was her overcoming her squeamishness and fear of getting hands dirty by killing Hearst in the finale. This felt supremely unsatisfying to me, and I realized this was because it was Tally's Arc II character journey, which was tied off in Chapter 25: Battle of the Goddesses. Readers might have missed it because it was an Alder POV chapter, but Chapter 25 is Tally's Arc II character climax. She takes control of Alder's mind during their duel, showing she's willing to fight dirty, punch below the belt, and do whatever it takes to survive, and she betrays Nicte to save the Spree, showing she can put her personal feelings aside to protect her people. Everything I'd planned for Arc III Tally, I actually gave to Arc II Tally. So I had to think of something else.

This song got me to where I needed to be to write Arc III Tally. At this point, it's not really about her personal internals, but about her journey as a leader and what she's going to do to change the world and lead witches into a future of peace. Yeah I know. It got really plotty and philosophical. But everything worked out! And I think it's way better than my original plan.

Stand by You - Rachel Platten

Human - Cher Lloyd

I like either or both of these for Chapters 28 and 29, Alder's Folly and The Seed of Revelation, Tally's POV which then slides into Alder's POV. They're ballads, bangers, and they work on numerous levels, which is cool.

All I Ask of You - Josh Groban, Kelly Clarkson : The song that led to me becoming a Kelly Clarkson stan. Her new album, Chemistry, is amazing. Listen to this song with Chapter 32: Past, Present, Future, when Tally is soothing Alder's fears and musing about their future.

Tally Two / What's the Plan / F-14 - Harold Faltermeyer : The main reason this fic is so aircraft-heavy is because I started writing it in October 2022, when Top Gun: Maverick came out on streaming. Listen to this song during Chapter 33: Into Darkness.

Zen Ball Master - John Powell, Hans Zimmer : It's not perfect, but I think the first half of the song suits the firefight scene in Chapter 35: Tally's Gift, when Tally, Sarah, and the Biddies are fighting their way out of the death factory.

I Am Moana (Song of the Ancestors) : I listened to this on repeat when I wrote Chapter 39: Nafssia. I knew what the chapter would be, I knew what Tally would do, and I knew I had to bring the fucking house down, which is why it took going to England, experiencing Witchbomb, and getting smiled at by Lyne Renee to pull it off.

One Less Witch in the World - Brandon Roberts : I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks this, but the Motherland soundtrack is disproportionately amazing. Like...why didn't they spend that money on better writers? Or idk, a few more episodes in each season? Doesn't matter. This song is awesome, but I think it works well with Chapter 44: One Less Witch in the World, during the third section where they're diverting the Accords.

Dance with Everybody - Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors

Who Do You Love - Marianas Trench

Better Place - Rachel Platten

Three end credits songs. I like imagining Sarah and Tally enjoying a wonderful Beltane together with Dance with Everybody and/or Who Do You Love as the backing track. In my mind, if it's Who Do You Love, Tally runs over to the drums for heavy drums section during the bridge and uses her touch-empathy to play alongside the rest of the drummers. She doesn't have a voice, so I like imagining her learning to play instruments so she and Sarah can still make music together. Better Place works well as a fade-to-black song during the domestic bliss at the end of the fic.

[prapasara]

 เพลงสากลที่นิยมเปิดในพิธีศพ

The Best Funeral Songs and Memorial Songs

Traditional Funeral Songs and Funeral Music

1) Amazing Grace – Traditional

2) Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler

3) His Eye is on the Sparrow – Mahalia Jackson

4) My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion

5) Precious Lord, Take My Hand – Mahalia Jackson

6) You Raise Me Up – Josh Groban

7) I’ll Fly Away – Albert E. Brumley

8) The Rose – Bette Midler

9) As – Stevie Wonder

10) Angels – Robbie Williams

11) Going Up Yonder – Walter Hawkins

12) Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers

13) Oh Happy Day – Edwin Hawkins Singers

14) Candle in the Wind – Elton John

15) Total Praise – Richard Smallwood

16) Time to Say Goodbye – Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman

17) Swing Low, Sweet Chariot – Traditional

18) Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel

19) Lean on Me – Bill Withers

20) Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton

21) Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

22) Ave Maria – Franz Schubert

23) You Are Not Alone – Michael Jackson

24) Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley

25) I’ll Be There – The Jackson 5

26) I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston

27) Victory is Mine – Dorothy Norwood

28) Always Look on the Bright Side of Life – Monty Python

29) Soon and Very Soon – Andraé Crouch

30) Danny Boy – Traditional

 

31) Order My Steps – GMWA Women of Worship

32) The Prayer – Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli

33) Take Me to the King – Tamela Mann

34) When I Survey the Wondrous Cross – Traditional

35) I Need You to Survive – Hezekiah Walker and The Love Fellowship Choir

36) In the Arms of an Angel – Sarah McLachlan

37) We Fall Down – Donnie McClurkin

38) What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong

39) Stand – Donnie McClurkin

40) Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles

41) We Shall Overcome – Traditional

42) I’ll Be Missing You – Puff Daddy and Faith Evans

43) Lift Every Voice and Sing – James Weldon Johnson

44) Nearer My God to Thee – Traditional

45) I Am Not Forgotten – Israel Houghton

46) How Great Thou Art – Traditional

47) You’ll Never Walk Alone – Mahalia Jackson

48) The Sound of Silence – Simon & Garfunkel

49) He Has His Hands On You – Marvin Sapp

50) Auld Lang Syne – Traditional

51) Bridge Over Troubled Water – Aretha Franklin

52) Over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

53) Morning Has Broken – Cat Stevens

54) A Time for Us – Nino Rota

55) Let It Be – The Beatles

56) Broken Halos – Chris Stapleton

57) Never Would Have Made It – Marvin Sapp

58) Don’t Cry for Me Argentina – Julie Covington

59) Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin

60) Old Rugged Cross – Traditional

61) Hold On – Yolanda Adams

62) The Way We Were – Barbra Streisand

63) You’ll Never Walk Alone – Gerry & The Pacemakers

64) His Strength is Perfect – Cece Winans

65) He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother – The Hollies

66) We’ll Meet Again – Vera Lynn

67) Keep On Movin’ – Soul II Soul

68) Love Me Tender – Elvis Presley

69) Oh How He Loves You and Me – Edwin Hawkins Singers

70) God Bless America – Irving Berlin

71) Memory – Barbra Streisand

72) Be Grateful – Walter Hawkins

73) Angels Among Us – Alabama

74) Amazing Grace – Aretha Franklin

75) My Way – Frank Sinatra

76) Stand By Me – Ben E. King

77) Hold On – Mighty Clouds of Joy

78) I Smile – Kirk Franklin

79) Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley

80) The Dance – Garth Brooks

81) You Are My Friend – Patti LaBelle

82) When the Saints Go Marching In – Traditional

83) On Eagle’s Wings – Michael Joncas

84) Angel – Sarah McLachlan

85) Bittersweet Symphony – The Verve

86) Ave Maria – Andrea Bocelli

87) The Lord is My Shepherd – Traditional

88) The Long and Winding Road – The Beatles

89) There You’ll Be – Faith Hill

90) Into the West – Annie Lennox

91) Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door – Bob Dylan

92) I Will Remember You – Sarah McLachlan

93) You Are the Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler

94) I’m Already There – Lonestar

95) When You Believe – Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey

96) Fields of Gold – Sting

97) He Stopped Loving Her Today – George Jones

98) If I Die Young – The Band Perry

99) Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) – Billy Joel

100) Always On My Mind – Ane Brun

101) Dancing in the Sky – Beverly Ann

102) Home – Aron Wright

103) Living Legend – Club Danger

104) Be Still – The Fray

105) I Shall Believe – Sheryl Crow

106) To Build a Home – The Cinematic Orchestra, Patrick Watson

107) Supermarket Flowers – Ed Sheeran

108) Future Days (Acoustic) – Eddie Vedder

109) Heart – Rainbow Kitten Surprise

110) See You Again – Wiz Khalifa, Charlie Puth

111) See You Again – Beth

112) These Are Days – 10,000 Maniacs

113) Wonderwall – Zella Day

114) Lay Me Down – Sam Smith

115) I Will Always Return – Bryan Adams

116) The Story – Brandi Carlile

117) Send Me On My Way – Rusted Root

118) When We Were Young – Adele

119) Amazing Grace (Chains Are Gone) – Pentatonix

120) Do You Remember – Jack Johnson

121) In Christ Alone – Christina Grimmie

122) When I Get Where I’m Going – Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton

123) I Will Follow You Into the Dark – Death Cab for Cutie

125) Proof of Your Love – King & Country

126) Home – Edith Whiskers

127) My Best Friend – Tim McGraw

128) Work Song – Hozier

129) Biscuits – Kacey Musgraves

130) Home – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

131) Waves – Imagine Dragons

132) I Lived – OneRepublic

133) 7 Years Old – Lukas Graham

134) Excavate – Macklemore, Saint Claire

135) Gonna Fly Now – Bill Conti 

136) Solsbury Hill – Peter Gabriel

137) Unforgettable – Nat King Cole

138) Yet – Nathan Morris

Christine Rose Photography / Moment via Getty Images

50 Songs to Play at a Funeral

Rock

1.    Tears In Heaven – Eric Clapton

2.    Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd

3.    Babe I’m Gonna Leave You – Led Zeppelin

4.    Scream – Chris Cornell

5.    My City of Ruins – Bruce Springsteen

6.    November Rain – Guns N’ Roses

7.    Hallelujah – Bon Jovi

8.    Stairway To Heaven – Led Zeppelin

9.    I’ll Back You Up – Dave Matthews Band

10.  Man of the Hour – Pearl Jam

Alternative Rock

1.    Surround You – Echosmith

2.    The Trapeze Swinger – Iron & Wine

3.    Heartbeats – Jose Gonzalez

4.    Blood – The Middle East

5.    The Funeral – Band of Horses

6.    Awake My Soul – Mumford & Sons

7.    While We Were Dreaming – Pink Mountaintops

8.    Higher Love – James Vincent McMorrow

9.    The Night We Met – Lord Huron

10.  Twenty Years – Augustana

Pop

1.    Supermarket Flowers – Ed Sheeran

2.    Breathe Me – Sia

3.    Fix You – Coldplay

4.    See You Again –Charlie Puth

5.    Somewhere Over The Rainbow -  Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (and other artists)

6.    I’ll Be Missing You – P. Diddy & Faith Evans

7.    Angel – Sarah McLachlan

8.    Angles – Robbie Williams

9.    Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol

10.  Gone, Gone, Gone – Phillip Phillips

Classics

1.    Take Me Home – John Denver

2.    Yesterday – The Beatles

3.    My Way – Frank Sinatra

4.    You’ll Never Walk Alone – Gerry & The Pacemakers

5.    Turn Turn Turn – The Byrds

6.    Always On My Mind – Elvis

7.    Amazing Grace – Celtic Women

8.    In My Life – The Beatles

9.    Imagine – John Lennon

10.  Heaven Can Wait – Meatloaf

Country

1.    If I Die Young – The Band Perry

2.    Go Rest High On That Mountain – Vince Gill

3.    Angels Among Us – Alabama

4.    If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away – Justin Moore

5.    I Drive Your Truck – Lee Brice

6.    Drink a Beer – Luke Bryan

7.    Who You’d Be Today – Kenny Chesney

8.    One Hell of an Amen – Brantley Gilbert

9.    If You’re Reading This – Tim McGraw

10.  See You Again – Carrie Underwood

nikkytok / iStock via Getty Images

Funeral music  ,  Funeral   ,   Popular music for funerals   ,  Traditional Funeral Songs and Funeral Music  ,   Funeral Music   ,    Popular Songs for Funerals  ,   Funeral Services

CR   ::   https://gather.app/blog/funeral-songs-list/  ,  https://www.funeralmatters.com/blog/Article/25/50-Songs-to-Play-at-a-Funeral

[the-devil-less-known]

Songs to Write my Muse!

whether it be melodies that give you inspiration for your muse or songs that get you into the writing mood ━ pick 10 songs you find to give you the urge, the drive, or the creativity to write for your muse !

(these aren't in any particular order)

1. take me back // kongos

So, this song holds a special place in my heart (as do a lot on this playlist), and the rising desperation and plea that catches in my throat, when I sing along with this song makes me think of him, crying out with no answer and trapped in the dark, grappling with the hopelessness and inevitably of never being heard

2. cure for a loner // gingergreen mashup

Also heavily resonates with me, the feeling of rising stress, trapped in a fog and overwhelmed as the world goes on and time slips by, this- disconnect of putting on a show of happiness while inside feeling so hollow, and it coming across a bit manic, like a jester in a circus pulled by strings; isolation would be so much easier, safer, better... Everything's too much, but there's no use for it, the show must go on

3. moth to a flame // swedish mafia + the weeknd

Man, I'm just telling on myself at this point, haha; but this one is Lilith to Lucifer; more specifically about anyone he gets close to, and his guilty thoughts about what she would say if she were to find out that he was trying to move on. That desperate attachment and the pain it causes him, to stay alone or try to let go, trapped in limbo and aching... and it being by her grace that anything good happens after, that guilt of betrayal even after being discarded; and never being enough, an amusement that can be useful

4. forgive the world // nessa bennett

It was a hard choice between this song and another one by the same artist (dying on the inside) since they were some of the first songs I listened to that made me think of him; not having any control, desperate to hold onto the people around him, not wanting to be discarded, willing to do anything, it makes me think of his relationship with Charlie and how it hurts to hold on while she drifts further away into what feels like assured death, but needing to maintain the illusion that nothing is wrong, not wanting to burden her or chase her away like Lilith with his dark emotions and history

5. brave // josh groban + peter hollens

A message to both himself and often to Charlie when he was younger; to stay hopeful, brave; I used to play this song often when I went out on late night runs on my grandparent's farm, it kept me strong when everything felt like it was falling apart, and I can see him comforting himself with this

6. fix me up // a firm handshake

So, I couldn't just put the whole album on here, so kept it to just two... But I knew the singer when he was alive, I used to go to school with him when I was a child, and his music left a mark that won't ever leave me; fix me up is about saying goodbye, that nothing will ever change, and there's no saving, but even so to offer comfort... Lucifer cannot die, he will never be free, and there's no consolation for it... But it's alright, it'll be okay, don't cry for him, it can't be changed, so it's okay to accept it

7. sandcastles // a firm handshake

I'm getting emotional here, haha, but this song was definitely something sang to comfort Charlie, helpless to do much else, not even able to promise heaven someday... But isn't nice to dream? Of an Eden? Of a true paradise, someday, to reunite together when all is said and done? It.can never be so for him, but... if there was such a place, it would be in his heart where her memory would rest, everything for her, so don't cry, please, he is here

8. lies // halsey + quavo

Lucifer and Lilith core again, I feel like my heart's being ripped out haha,, the lie was always better than the truth that he could feel coming unstoppably, like a train coming down the tracks, the inevitably, but give him a lie, just one, let him live in the lie if nothing else; he knows his use is running out, she's getting tired of him, but he can't let go...please... tell him lies, let him believe in this lie

9. tired // emily finchum (anne october)

The eternal exhaustion, unable to stop the pain welling up like a fountain and tears flowing out and out, there's nothing left, nothing... left but the ennui of existence that will never end; don't worry, he's just tired, it'll be fine; just fine...

10. the highwayman // loreena mckennet

This one rises the feeling of helplessness and still wanting to fight, even if the end will always be in tragedy, the build up makes me want to scream and struggle, but I know how it ends, it will always end, but left helplessly enraged anyway and that's how Lucifer feels to me, haha, it hurts

11. simmer // hayley williams + violet orlandi

One extra for y'all because it was really genuinely hard to settle on just ten, and I could NOT leave this one out by sheer nature of Lucifer's temper, and how it's barely restrained beneath the surface, buried in his grief and hopelessness, but, but when it comes to anything to do with Charlie that might cause her further harm (Alastor) or with Heaven finding out what she's trying to do, it rises up, blistering and hot, it may be inevitable but like Hell will he let it happen sooner than it must, simmering simmering always, furious

(but these are just the songs I narrowed down and agonized over, haha, honestly anything by a firm handshake, marina and the diamonds early albums, some select songs from halsey and billie ellish, and a bunch of other random songs by various artists if people want, I'll share his playlist)

Tagged by: @radioiaci

Tagging: @gabriel-eveningstar , @brokendreamscreation , @ask-husk-anything , @charliechasingrainbows , @hellborn-princess , @e-m-p-error , @maidsavagery

[si-cucumber]

Mazz's Top 5 Shows (as of 8/23)

So I’ve been debating on letting my inner theater geek out on here for a while, but I also realize that....this is my blog so I can talk about whatever the hell I want to talk about.

If somehow you didn’t know already, I am and always have been a theater kid. I’ve been lucky enough to have seen tons of live theater in my day, whether it’s community, national tours, or in New York. And now that my current touring season is over, and I continue to gush over the amazing shows I’ve seen the past few months, I think it’s time for me to officially update my Top 5 Show list. 

5.) Six (US Tour)

So fun fact, I just saw this for the first time yesterday. I've been a fan of Six since it opened in the West End and waited super patiently for it to tour. It was entirely electric, the crowd was beyond into it, and the vocal talent was so stunning that I instantly bought tickets to see it again. That has never happened to me before. I was incredibly blown away and look forward to seeing it again next weekend lmao

4.) Next To Normal (Broadway, 2010)

This was my very first Broadway show on my first trip to New York. This was baby's first online fandom. Back in the day, my friends and I ruled the n2n category on FFnet. It was my first experience with fanfiction and fandom and it was fantastic. This show was everything angsty, teenage Mazz needed at the time. Being able to see the original cast and it being my first real Broadway show, it will always hold a special place in my heart!

3.) Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2023 Revival)

I saw this back in June when I went to New York last! Actually, the whole reason for my trip was just to see this, especially since I missed out on Josh Groban in Great Comet. The most star-studded cast I've ever seen, tons of heavy-hitters. Sweeney Todd was a favorite of teenage Mazz and his theater friends. We'd spend our weekends in my friend's basement performing "A Little Priest" to the best of our ability. Even though I know this show inside and out, I was still on the edge of my seat by the end. Annaleigh Ashford was the stand-out for me. She was robbed of that Tony.

2.) Beetlejuice (National Tour)

I saw this back in January with one of my best friends. I've loved this show since it debuted ages ago, and was probably the best show I saw this touring season! The absolute funniest show I've ever seen. Like, we were laughing so loud and hard I'm pretty sure we were annoying the people around us lmao. But nonetheless, it was an excellent production and I left dying to see it again (no...pun intended).

1.) Some Like It Hot (Broadway 2023)

I will never ever ever stop talking about this show. Hands down, best show I have ever seen. The amount of joy i felt for hours after seeing this was incredible. I was so lucky to see this during pride month, so I have a pride version of the playbill, which is so so special to me. It was so refreshing to see a classic, jazz musical again and the choreography? Insane. Like jaw dropping insane. The final chase sequence blew my mind.

But what struck me the most was seeing a queer actor onstage playing a canonically trans character. A character who was done so well and felt so organic. I saw this at the point in my transition where I really started presenting and dressing masculinely. I was the little awkward trans guy from Ohio, alone in the big city, sat at the front of the mezzanine hearing the crowd cheer for Daphne. After months of feeling dread about the state of this country and the fear of being outwardly trans, this was just...the perfect thing at the perfect time. The amount of gender euphoria I felt was incredible, it was so moving to me. It will always hold a special place in my heart and that is why it's my number one.

So that is my current list! Will it change? Probably at some point lmao. My next season starts in October, and I look forward to seeing what awaits me next.

[starfata]

Songs SQQ might know

A year ago I started a list of English language songs that Shen Yuan might have known. Then I updated the list, multiple times through reblogs. This is the compilation of those updates.

The following list is compiled from research into popular English language choices for kareoke in China, and then research into English speaking artists whose world tours have had shows in China, and a few other that made sense to me, like Reflection covers and CoCo Lee who released albums in both America and China. @blondejaneblonde says her SQQ transmigrated when Scum Villain was first published in 2015, so I used that year as my cut off date.

Michael Jackson- Beat it, Billie Jean, Smooth Criminal, Man in the Mirror, You are Not Alone, Childhood

Celine Dion- My heart will go on

Bryan Adams- (Everything I do) I do it for you

Carpenters- Yesterday Once More

Lady GaGa- Bad Romance, Alejandro, Telephone, Papparazzi, The Edge of Glory, Born this Way,

Backstreet Boys- I want it that way, As long as you love me, Show me the meaning of being lonely, Incomplete, I'll never break your heart

Whitney Houston- I Will Always Love You

Josh Groban- You raise me up

Emilia- Big Big World

Taylor Swift- Love Story, Forever & Always, White Horse, Breathe, Red, Everything has changed, We are never ever getting back together, Blank Space, Out of the Woods, All you had to do was stay, Bad Blood, Wildest Dreams, Clean

Elton John- Can you feel the love tonight, Sorry seems to be the hardest word,

Michael Buble- Haven't met you yet, the way you look tonight, Fever, Sway, Come fly with me, How can you mend a broken heart, Moondance, Put your head on my shoulder

Coco Lee- Do you want my love, Reflection (Mulan cover)

Yo-Yo Ma and CoCo Lee- A Love before time

Crystal Liu- Reflection (Mandarin)

One Direction- What makes you beautiful, Live while we're Young, Little Things, Perfect, If I could fly

Ellie Goulding- Lights, Love me Like you do

Beyonce- Crazy in Love, Crazy in Love (remix, 2015), Halo, Best thing I never had, If I were a boy

Adele- Someone like you, Rumour has it, Turning Tables, Hello, When we were young,

Katy Perry- Teenage Dream, Roar, Unconditionally, Dark Horse, The one that got away, E.T., Pearl,

M2M- Pretty Boy

Michael Learns to Rock- Take me to Your Heart

Mariah Carey- When you believe, We belong together, Hero, My all, Fly like a bird, Fantasy

Justin Bieber- One time, Boyfriend, What do you mean, All that matters

Avril Lavigne- Let me go, Wish you were here, Alice,

Westlife- Flying without Wings, My love, When you're looking like that, World of our own, when you tell me that you love me, The Rose

Wham!- Careless Whisper, wake me up before you go

Christina Aguilera- I turn to you, Hurt, Fighter, We remain

Britney Spears-Born to make you happy, criminal

Usher- Burn, Here I stand, moving mountains, DJ got us falling in love

Bob Dylan- It's all over now, Baby Blue, Tangled up in blue, Simple twist of fate, thunder on the mountain, Forever young,

Carly Rae Jepsen had a show in Beijing in May 2015!

Carly Rae Jepsen- Call me maybe, curiosity, good time, this kiss, Tonight I'm getting over you, Almost said it, Take a picture, Really like you, All that, Beautiful (with Justin Bieber)

And performed for the first time at the Beijing China show, "Run Away with Me", "Emotion", "Your Type", "Black Heart", and "Gimmie Love".

Mamma Mia opened in 2011 at the Shanghai Grand Theatre, so we can also include ABBA!

[ofgreyskies]

Shades of Grey: From Producer to Multi-Hyphenate Music Star

Published by Rolling Stone in April 2023

For Grey, there wasn't ever any option other than music. Since before he had even entered school, he had a love for the keys of a piano. "I think I knew from my first piano lesson that I was going to be making music for the rest of my life," he says. "I didn't grasp it then. A four year-old isn't thinking about what they're going to be doing in a week, much less decades down the line, but I think a part of me knew. That piano was my first love." After a childhood spent traveling, Grey got serious about music and committed to four years in Los Angeles as a music major at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, famously known for producing talent such as Phoebe Bridgers and Josh Groban, and for being the subject of the 2012 documentary Fame High. Grey immersed himself entirely in the Los Angeles music scene, attending open mics and uploading his original music to websites like YouTube and Soundcloud. "Throwing yourself so into it, it can be the make or break point. I saw people burn out and decide music or performance were better left as hobbies. That never happened to me. That's when I really knew, oh, yeah, I have to do this for the rest of my life."

When the offer came to join the music publishing company Blossom Music Group shortly after he turned eighteen, Grey decided against furthering his studies at Berklee or USC to jump straight into the workforce. During his time with Blossom, Grey contributed toplines and production to several tracks for American and Korean artists, including Korean pop powerhouse Eternal. "I grew up more in my first year working with Blossom than I did any other year before. It was getting all these crazy opportunities as a songwriter and having to continuously better my art."

Later that same year, Blossom's label arm Blossom Records released Grey's debut track "Put My Hands On You" featuring Anderson .Paak. "It wasn't the plan, right away, to jump into a solo music career, but when the chance came, I wasn't going to deny it." A few months later, Grey made his debut in South Korea with his first EP 130 Mood: TRBL, a reference to the racing number on James Dean's Porsche Spyder. "James Dean was one of the guys, along with Kurt Cobain, that I thought was the coolest growing up. I still do. That spirit of rebelliousness, of experimentality, that's what I wanted to bring to music, and to my life, so that's where the title came from. The EP itself, it was a love story, a story of heartbreak — isn't every love story a heartbreak story, really? I was eighteen, nineteen, and I wanted to cut my heart out of my chest and package it into something bigger than myself to make it easier to deal with. I think everyone feels that way after their first big heartbreak."

Grey continued his promotions as a steadily rising soloist, releasing music aimed toward the Korean market as well as music aimed toward the U.S. He continued to work as a producer under Blossom Music Group until they parted ways in 2017. Not long after, Grey reappeared as the main vocalist of pop-rock four-piece Deep Blue. "When I started working with the guys, something just clicked. I realized there was more music I could be making as a part of a band. My former label, they understood I'd grown in a direction away from them, so our parting of ways was amicable. I remember working on "Sorry", our debut track as Deep Blue, and it felt like magic. I'd always been a bit of a lone wolf in my work, so that support system and the creative pinball effect of a group... it's what I really needed. It's still what I need to this day."

"I loved bands growing up. Nirvana, Green Day, Queen... I mean, "Heart-Shaped Box", "Last Night on Earth", "Killer Queen", those were the songs I loved in middle school and high school. I should have thought of being in a band earlier." As Deep Blue continued to grow as a band, Grey's artistic interests also grew. He reignited his solo career alongside his role in the band in 2019 and has recently released his first studio album Moodswings In To Order. "Sometimes, I get asked why it's something I even have to do when I have Deep Blue. 'Why release a song solo when it could be given to the band?', which is crazy to me. There are some things I just want to explore on my own. Like MITO, it's something that makes more sense for me to do on my own." Grey has been open about the content of his recent Moodswings In This Order EP and Moodswings In To Order album tying into his own experiences with mental illness. "For a while, I thought it wasn't really relatable to write about my experiences with bipolar disorder or anxiety. I thought, 'what if people don't connect with that? Then I'll feel more alone in it than I already do'. It felt like a risk to bring this whole world I'd created to life because of that, but it's become something really personal and cathartic for me."

In addition to his ventures in music, Grey has been noted as a promising director for his work on his own music videos and those of idol groups True North ("Can't You See Me?") and Myworld ("Girls"). "I've been into filmmaking a long time, but it never seemed as in-reach as music did. I used to experiment with making my own little music videos to my favorite songs as a kid and I self-studied it as I got older. Getting to help out with the visuals of my first EP really planted the seed. It was the videos for "Instagram" and "Howlin' 404" that really sprouted everything, though. That's how I got the True North video offer. I'd worked on the song, so I had a vision in mind, but wasn't sure I was the right fit. When when we ended up getting into ideas, it actually matched me really well. I'm really inspired by darker imagery — horror, thriller kind of stuff, anything unsettling or raw, and how that reflects the realities of the human experience. That's what a lot of my MITO work is based around visually, too, obviously."

Grey is performing at Coachella as his major American festival debut this weekend and is set to embark on his first solo tour following that. "It's awesome. Live performance, to me, has always been the essence of all of this, the lifeblood, so to get to perform my music live for the next few months... that's sick. And we've got a lot of great stuff cooked up. I've been really involved in the staging and the creative directing. It's going to be more than just a concert."

[sneakystorms]

Do you prefer the Broadway or Off-Broadway cast album of Great Comet?

DEFINITELY the Broadway one because denée Benton is The Natasha of my heart like I'm sorry but I'll take this opportunity to turn this into a denée Benton rant. The naturalness and artlessness and sincerity she imbues Natasha with is staggering and imo gets right at the heart of what her character is about but then her moments of dignity are so on point as well and her anger is Natasha & Sonya is like my favourite part of the entire performance!!! Phillipa soo is great but whenever I see or hear her performance it seems a little too sweet to me whereas denée Benton plays her with such earnest and powerful emotions... Ok denée Benton rant over I also love Josh grobans voice (Dave is a good Pierre in many respects and it's awesome to see him perform this role he clearly identifies with but his voice never felt right to me) and of course dust and ashes!! One of my favourite songs!!!! The only thing I hate is the removal of Natasha lost from the studio version it's my favourite Natasha solo and I love the music in it...

Which brings me to the conclusion which is that with great comet the bootleg will always have my heart a thousand times over either studio recording. The strength of the emotions just doesn't come across as well as when the singers can belt the notes out in a theatre and besides the audience reactions and crackly audio quality give it a certain vibe that suits this show well... I think I compared it to listening to an actual recording of a live vaudeville or cabaret show!! Also in the studio version you miss out on bits like the opening "NO!!" and stuff!! So yeah live recording all the way. I dearly wish they'd release an official one already

[carewyncromwell]

“The whole world just fades away -- The only thing I hear is the beating of your heart, 'Cause I can feel you breathe! It's washing over me, And suddenly, I'm melting into you... There's nothing left to prove -- Baby, all we need is just to be... Caught up in the touch -- slow and steady rush -- Baby, isn't that the way that love's supposed to be? ...I can feel you breathe...”

~“Breathe,” by Faith Hill

x~x~x~x

“Ahem…let me see if I can find my – ahh – ”

[Duncan’s] sentence came to a shaky halt.

A pair of cold, but soft and moist lips had made contact with the side of his face, right beside his jawline. The intimate, tender contact sent tremors through Duncan’s entire body. His eyes fluttered closed against his will, his hand coming up almost involuntarily, as if to wanting to hold onto Jacob’s face, the way the other man’s ghostly hand so lightly held his in place.

Jacob’s mouth was freezing cold…so why was the blood pounding through Duncan’s veins so electrifyingly hot?

~Haunted Mansion AU, Part 8: Ready to Run

x~x~x~x

Feh, this didn’t turn out exactly how I wanted, but...well, there’s this one messy sketch I did for the Haunted Mansion AU way back when, and I wanted to see if I could do it again with slightly better anatomy and cleaner lines, so here you go. The sketch is actually about two months old -- I’ve been pecking away at editing it off and on for the last few weeks, and well, even if it’s not perfect, I guess it is at least a little bit better than that original doodle from October 2021:

Other songs accompanying this doodle’s progress include Kiss from a Rose by Seal (which I’m shocked does NOT feature the lyrics “kiss from a rose on the grave,” as I’ve always heard it sung), Angel of Mine by Monica, and When You Say You Love Me by Josh Groban, all of which fit the time period this AU is set in, namely, the winter of 2003. 

Hope you all have a lovely day! Much love!! 🖤

[katherineholmes]

I was listening to Josh Groban's "Evermore" (from The Beauty and the Beast soundtrack) and I realized that the lyrics suit both Klena and Elejah too well. The lyrics are just beautiful, I can even imagine Klaus and Elijah singing for Elena. ❤️🥹

“I was the one who had it all

I was the master of my fate

I never needed anybody in my life

I learned the truth too late

I'll never shake away the pain

I close my eyes but she's still there

I let her steal into my melancholy heart

It's more than I can bear

Now I know she'll never leave me

Even as she runs away

She will still torment me

Calm me, hurt me

Move me, come what may

Wasting in my lonely tower

Waiting by an open door

I'll fool myself, she'll walk right in

And be with me for evermore

I range against the trials of love

I curse the fading of the light

Though she's already flown so far beyond my reach

She's never out of sight

Now I know she'll never leave me

Even as she fades from view

She will still inspire me

Be a part of everything I do

Wasting in my lonely tower

Waiting by an open door

I'll fool myself, she'll walk right in

And as the long, long nights begin

I'll think of all that might have been

Waiting here for evermore”

I completely agree! This song and Beauty and The Beast are some of my favourites!

I think once Elijah or Klaus let Elena in, Elijah with ease, Klaus while kicking and screaming against it, they won’t be able to forget it. Won’t be able to get her out of their minds, no matter what happens.

For Elijah, I think Elena represents all that he has lost, whereas for Klaus, Elena represents all that he can be. All that he is meant to be, she literally completes him. And I think this song is a perfect representation of that.

Thank you so much for this ask! I’m going to keep listening to this song over and over again. Just an aside, are there any songs you guys think fit Elejah or Klena? I have a few playlists of my own, but I’m always looking for new songs.